In a significant leap for India’s deep-tech hardware ecosystem, Bengaluru-based robotics startup Armatrix has raised $2.1 million (approximately ₹18 crore) in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by pi Ventures, a prominent early-stage fund specializing in AI and deep-tech. The round also saw strong participation from a global cohort of investors, including Inuka Capital, Boundless Ventures, Boost VC, Turbostart, and returning backer gradCapital.
Founded in 2024 by IIT Kanpur alumni Vishrant Dave, Prateesh Awasthi, and Ayush Ranjan, Armatrix is tackling one of the most dangerous challenges in industrial maintenance: confined space operations. The startup develops hyper-redundant, snake-like robotic arms designed to navigate highly restricted and hazardous environments—such as aircraft fuel tanks, nuclear reactors, and ship hulls—where human entry often leads to fatal accidents or costly operational shutdowns.
What sets Armatrix apart is its proprietary mechanical architecture. Unlike traditional rigid industrial robots, the Armatrix system features a 5-meter flexible arm with over 22 degrees of freedom, allowing it to enter through manholes as narrow as 50mm and navigate multiple 90-degree turns. To ensure safety in volatile environments like oil and gas tanks, the company utilizes an extrinsic actuation model where all electronics and motors are housed in an isolated external box, leaving the mechanical arm “spark-free.”
Key technological pillars of the platform include:
- AI-Native Navigation: Real-time path planning and digital-twin simulations allow the robot to adapt to unmapped, complex industrial geometries.
- Modular Payloads: The arm can be equipped with various end-effectors, from high-definition cameras for visual inspection to ultrasonic sensors for thickness gauging and corrosion assessment.
- Rapid Deployment: The system is designed to reduce inspection times from several days (which typically require scaffolding and oxygen kits for humans) to just a few hours.
The global robotics maintenance market is projected to skyrocket from $41.6 billion in 2023 to $150 billion by 2032. Armatrix is positioning itself as one of only four companies globally capable of delivering this specific form-factor. “Our mission is to shift industries from a reactive, high-cost maintenance model to a proactive, zero-downtime standard,” stated Vishrant Dave, CEO of Armatrix.
The fresh capital will be utilized to complete the development of their commercial-ready platform, expand the engineering and R&D teams, and fast-track pilot deployments. The company has already signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with major players in the shipbuilding and energy sectors. As India pushes for Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) deep-tech solutions, Armatrix’s “Made in India” robots are set to become a vital safety and efficiency tool for the global heavy-industry landscape.
Key Highlights:
- Funding Success: Deep-tech startup Armatrix raised $2.1 million led by pi Ventures to commercialize its hyper-redundant, snake-like robotic arms.
- Safety First: The technology aims to replace human entry in hazardous and confined spaces across the nuclear, aviation, and oil and gas industries.
- Advanced Engineering: Developed by IIT Kanpur graduates, the robot features 22+ degrees of freedom and AI-driven navigation to work in unmapped environments.
- Global Ambition: With a 3-meter proof-of-concept already built, the funds will drive pilot deployments and help Armatrix compete in the $150 billion global maintenance market.